The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-09-17

II
. pack. not a peddler. VIII
he had gone to Thompson's was un
known. and the proprietor of ever,
other decent house said the strangel
had made big mistake, and would b,
sorry before the hay was in. The ex
cuses made to call at Thompson's thai
morning were numerous and ingeni
Gus, but the callers found little reward
The stranger had risen early, and taking
lunch with him. had gone off for :
days sketching. All that was learned
was that his name was Harry Willard,
and that he had paid for his first weeks
board in advance. Mrs. Thompson
had not intended to give this last piece
OF information, but she was goaded
thereto to the remarks of Abner Wool
let's wife to the effect that "she didn't
believe in harborin' them as didn't give
q full account of themselves" Now
Mrs. Woollet's desire to turn q penny
was so proverbial that jealousy Of
another's having secured a paying
boarder was generally understood to be
at the bottom of her distrust, and her
observation about her not bein' willin'
to make herself a servant to no stranger
did not arouse Mrs. Thompson's ire.
II Blue Posts did not see much of
Harry Willard on the day after his ar
rival, it made up for lost time ON the
next Before shutdown he had made
the acquaintance of nearly every girl.
woman and child in the village. and in
the evening, at the combination grocery
and saloon, met many of the men. and
pledged their acquaintance in draughts
of home-brewed. The succeeding day
completed his introduction. He knew
every one in Blue Posts, and remem-
bered nearly all their names, and in
some instances knew how many chill
dren and babies went to make up a
family. Before the week was over
Harry Willard iran the village" He
made portraits of all the pretty girls,
got up barn dances, organized picnics.
extemporized charades. and introduced
. dozen forms of amusement hitherto
unknown. OF course all the girls were
In love with him. and their former
rustic admirers we're utterly eclipscd.
Willard did not single out any particu-
lar object for his attentions. Pretty
little Mollie Thompson and the tall,
majestic Helen Woollet contended in
vain for his undivided homage. They
were not any more rewarded than
Susan Strong, who seemed
10 delight to try to keep him at a dis
lance. He was friendly with all. but
made love to none, not even to Fanny
White, the cleverest. the handsomest
and the quietest of Blue Posts beauties.
Il was reported that more than one of
these had been seen going to or return
ing from the squaw's cottage, and it |
was even limited that they sought love
philters and charms. Certain wild
lowers that are supposed to show the
or constancy of lovers were
llso noticed to be in great demand.
In all the freedom of his intercourse |
With young and old Harry Willard |
lever revealed his profession or BUSH
Tess. and when questioned on the sub
ect would turn of the interrogation
With a joke. Why he had come to Blue
'osts also remained a mystery, and his
tatement that he had hit upon it by
nance while on . walking tour was
lot believed. The truth is SO simple
hat persons looking for secrets unhes-
tatingly reject it. Whatever brought
i'm to the village. he found sufficient
harm there to remain for nearly two
Months. Then he disappeared as sud-
emily as he had come. Early one
,orning one of Thompscn's small boys
rived at the house Of each young lady
, Blue Posts. and presented her with
n addressed envelop. On this being
pened, its contents were found to be
ard bearing in engraved characters
ne words:
HARRY WILLARD.
No. East F{fteenth Steea,
Ncw York,
w WAASSIA Ah . OOAu ukaCk u6I1Q anu |
cry black ink. in capital letters, p.
c."
Inquiry of Thompson's boy elected
he news that Muster" Willard had
OF letter the day before. and told
lother he must 60 to York ''terwunce,"
nd he'd buckled on his pack and
'oted it at daylight
That afternoon the book club met.
nd all the girls were there. The event
the day-Willard's disappearance
as too all-absorbing to permit of any
ther subject being discussed. All had
'ceived cards exactly alike. but none
new what they meant. What were
10 mystic words represented by those
lbalistic capital initialse
Il Think said Molly Thorcrscr